The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-24
HR. LAMAR INTERVIEWED
In REGARD TO LAND AND IN.
DIAN REf0SS.
The Letter to the President the First
Step Toward a General
Revocation.
THE PRESIDENT ACCEPTS AN
INVITATION
To Visit st. Louis In the Fall, but
Declines to Go to Hartford
Capital News.

WAsHINGToN, May 3D. Your cor.
respondent had a conversation yeeter.
day afternoon with Secretary Lamar
in regard to the question OF land re.
form and Indian reform. The letter
10 the President on the revocation Of
certain indemnity Withdrawals Ia only
the first step toward a general revocs-
ton CT all Indemnity Withdrawals re.
manning in all arts Of the country, as
he stated In his letter in these words:
"Steps will be taken in reference TO
the indemnity lands OF the other land
grant railroads with view to the
restoration OF these lands to settle.
nent following given and reasonable
time 10 make their selections) as soon
as the department ia In possession Of
such information rs will enable ii to
act intelligently in making allowances
20 said companies OF indemnity lands
in lien OF those lost in place."
Secretary Lamar said: ~ am by the
habit OF my mind q cautious man, and
take pains to inform myself fully OF
all the circumstances Of a case before
] begin to act; but when / have begun
scion do not turn back nor hesitate
nor delay. am fully convinced that
all the lands which have been with.
drawn from settlement at various
times to allow the land grant corpora.
lions to select indemnity lands from
ought TO be reopened without delay TO
settlement, and this is what l sball
do Every indemnity withdrawal will
be revoked by me without unneces-
ssry delay. My first order on the SUBJ
jeCt simply clears the ground for the
complete action on which have de.
termined."
Have you any objections to this
being known?'
mot in the least. l authorize you
10 say II Ia as from me. No conceal
ment Ia necessary. Under the laws
granting these lands the corporations
are and have been entitled for years to
select lands in the indemnity limits
to make good any losses In their grant
ed limits. Bat hold that while the
corporations had ard have this right
the people had and have at the same
time the same right TO settle on these
lands under the land laws, and II Is
just and necessary that this equal
right Of the people In these lands
should be asserted. Hence / shall re.
voks every indemnity withdrawal and
open oil indemnity lands to settle
ment at once. Within the granted
limits the land grant corporations have
certain rights, to the. exclusion OF the
people. That Is by act Of Congress,
Within the indemnity limits the cor
poIations have their rights OF selection
only in common with the people,"
How do You get on with the In
dian severalty lawsf"
eve are still busy with the prelim-
iparies, which are numerous, as there
are many reservations, and the cir.
eumstances on each are peculiar That
act Is one OF the most important and
bsnehcent CoDgrersshas ever passed.
The true way to settle the Indian
question is to abolish the Iadian Bu-
Feau. mean, of course, TO pursue
such policy ss will result in that"
IL do not anticipate any serious OBJ
stscles. The numerous leases of In
dian lands by csttle,men ehall sweep
away. II they were allowed to sub
Bist, the Indians who have made leases
of this kind for which, as you know,
there is no authority oil law would
be induced to resist the law OF Con-
gress commanding their settlement in
sevsralty. l shall, therefore, give
proper notice, presently, that the cat
tie must be removed ard he leases
annulltd. II we have been obliged to
use troops to keep settlers out OF To-
dian lands, or lands held by agree
ment for Indian uses, then we may
surely use troops II necessary to drive
of and keep of cattle, just as have
found II necessary lately to employ
troops to tear down fencea around the
public lands. l am not fond of the
use OF troops, but when cattle are to
40 they must go, and while hope the
cattle lease men will obey in good
faith, shall not hesitate to compel
prompt obedience. The law OF Com
VToes must be carried ont"